Life jackets save four men rescued four hours after their fishing boat capsized crossing Windang Bar

The area near where four men spent four hours in the water after their boat capsized on Saturday morning. Pictire Sylvia Liber.
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Life-jackets have saved the lives of four men who spent four hours in water after their boat capsized at Windang early on Saturday morning.

The men are winched to safety at Windang. Photo: Ross Stephenson

It is understood the 31, 48, 52, and 62 year old left the boat ramp at Windang and headed east over the Windang Bar around 40 metres off Windang Island to go fishing at 6.30 on Friday night.

Between 1am and 2am on Saturday their boat capsized after it hit a wave while attempting to cross the Windang Bar.

All four men were thrown into the water.

NSW Ambulance Illawarra duty inspector Kelvin Milne said they spent around four hours floating in the water.

They were left clinging to the upturned boat between 2am and 6am until bystanders saw them and alerted authorities.

“Two were picked up by Ambulance Rescue Helicopter and two by Marine Rescue,” he said.

“They were carried to Reddeall Parade where they were assessed. One was transported to Shellharbour Hospital. It is fortunate they were wearing life jackets and water is warm at this time of year. Their life jackets saved them.”

One of the men sustained a minor laceration to his hand.

Police from Lake Illawarra Local Area Command and officers from Marine Area Command attended and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.